Worst Comics of 2018

January 14, 2019

By Dustin Cabeal

Again, I’m still retired, but again, I love doing the end of the year list. I don’t actually care if anyone reads this list or the Best Comics of 2018 list, but they’ll exist for me and at this point in life that’s all I’m shooting for, writing for myself.

The worst of list has always brought its share of controversy. When I started Comic Bastards, comic fandom was at a stage in which nothing could be criticized because for some reason criticism meant the end of the medium. I’d say some people still act like that, whereas every other form of media strives through criticism, but whatever. Now though, there’s a growing number of people that shit on comics just because they’re not what they liked growing up or they have minority creators and minority characters in the book. Gasp, the world changed and left all these people behind to complain about comics. You won’t find me complaining about a comic for those reasons, these are just comics that shouldn’t be celebrated and hopefully will improve in the next year… or not which is most likely what will happen, but some people can now avoid ever reading this batch of books. Here they are in no particular order.

Comic Bastards Podcast - 036 - The End →

August 1, 2018

By Dustin Cabeal

Click here to listen

This is it, the end of the Comic Bastards Podcast. Also, you should probably read this post: https://comicbastards.com/comics/comic-bastards-the-end

Thanks for listening and supporting the podcast and site over the past seven years!

-Dustin Cabeal
Comic Bastards

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Review: Delilah Dirk and the Pillars of Hercules

August 1, 2018

By Dustin Cabeal

Delilah Dirk is hands down my favorite graphic novel series. I’m always a little surprised when it returns because it just seems like a publisher would throw a mountain of cash at Tony Cliff and pull him away from this story. Thankfully, either that hasn’t happened, or more than likely Mr. Cliff would rather be working on Delilah Dirk.

I will never forget the first volume of Delilah Dirk. It was incredibly powerful in its writing, but more so in its visual storytelling. Cliff makes the writing and artwork so seamlessly that it’s easy to appreciate both. The second volume had a different tone and a different journey. It was personal, but different for our main characters. It too resonated with beauty that I struggle to find anywhere else in the world of comics. Don’t get me wrong; there are so many talented illustrators out there with varying styles and amazing talents. It’s just that seeing a setting that Cliff has illustrated is like falling in love for the first time. It moves you, hell, it makes you want to move. After reading a volume of Delilah Dirk, I’m filled with the need for adventure. To make a flying ship and set out upon the world. Cliff’s artwork calls to you in a way that no other artist I’ve found does. To say he’s masterful seems like only the beginning. He’s a once in a generation talent.

Review: Speak: The Graphic Novel

August 1, 2018

By Dustin Cabeal

Never have I felt more underqualified to review a story than with Speak: The Graphic Novel. A title that leads me to believe that there’s a novel version of this story as well. I don’t know because I don’t research anything before reading it. That probably comes off as a strange thing for a reviewer to do, but its actually the best thing in the world because it’s the only way to be surprised by a story. I never read the synopsis for Speak, and I’m glad I didn’t. In fact, I would even tell you wholeheartedly not to finish this review and instead go get a copy for yourself and go in blind. It makes for a powerful reading experience.

Review: Making Friends

August 1, 2018

By Dustin Cabeal

I love it when the title of a book means one thing before you read it and something else entirely after you’ve read it. I’m sure that people who read the synopsis for Making Friends already got the double meaning, but I live in a strange little world in which I don’t. I mean like ever. In all the years of running Comic Bastards, I have actively tried not to read the synopsis of anything I’ve read. In fact, I didn’t even know about Making Friends until last week when creator Kristen Gudsnuk tweeted about it. That was all I needed to pre-order it. Anyway, maybe you’re like that too, and you’ll get the double meaning of the title after reading Making Friends, which you should totally do!

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Review: Beasts of Burden: Wise Dogs and Eldritch Men #1

August 1, 2018

By Dustin Cabeal

Anytime I can return to the world of Beasts of Burden; it’s a damn good day. It’s probably going to be a sad day too because as a whole the Beasts of Burden series are heartbreaking. The brilliance of the idea is that it’s a simple witches and warlocks story, but because all the characters are animals, it plays upon peoples emotional attachment to their pets. Nearly seeing a dog die in a magic fight is ten times more moving than any death in Harry Potter. Just kidding, I know that will piss some people off, but there is an insane amount of emotion in this series, and that’s saying something considering there are no people in the story.

Review: Crowded #1

August 1, 2018

By Dustin Cabeal

The concept for Crowded has been staring us all in the face for years. I’m surprised I haven’t read a hundred comics with the idea, but then that goes to show how talented Christopher Sebela is as a storyteller. Because he pulled this idea from the collective ether and got it made.

The cover is confusing in that it seems like a buddy adventure in which one of the character isn’t taking things too seriously. It’s far more complex than that as we meet Charlie, she’s the one in grey with pink hair and those amazing shorts and thigh-high socks. Side note, I love that look. Yes, it’s a hot look, but it goes further than that in that it just screams awesome. It’s probably because of Clueless, but Charlie had my attention instantly.

Review: Tongues – Chapter 2

August 1, 2018

By Dustin Cabeal

The first chapter/issue of Tongues was weird, but in the way, I like my comics. The second issue is also weird, but for a lot of different reasons. It’s clear that the story isn’t linear now. We’re not reading the events in a straight line because parts of the story travel back to before events in the first issue. It also means that we’re starting to see a bigger picture outline for use by creator Anders Nilsen.

Review: Sink #5

August 1, 2018

By Dustin Cabeal

This review is long overdue. I wish I had read this issue a lot sooner because it is just a great conclusion to the first volume of the series. Let’s just say that I don’t regret picking Sink as my best comic of last year, it finishes strong with the fifth issue and manages to highlight all the great things about the series in the process.

Review: The Fist vol. 1

August 1, 2018

By Dustin Cabeal

I would be reminiscent not to complete my review coverage of The Fist. I only wish that I had been able to do so during its Kickstarter run which successfully funded the first volume going to print. I would also like to have gotten a copy, but hey I was late to this part of the party… or had to leave early? I don’t know; I don’t party.

Review: Astra: Lost in Space vol. 3

August 1, 2018

By Dustin Cabeal

My oh, my, is there a lot of character development in this volume of Astra. We also finally go back to their home planet and see how the folks are holding up with the kids being gone. I was wondering when the story would flip back to earth, but Kenta Shinohara surprised me in that the scene with the parents didn’t play out like I thought it would at all.

Review: Black Torch vol. 1

August 1, 2018

By Dustin Cabeal

The cover grabbed me instantly for Black Torch. The smokey cat sitting on the shoulder of our main character who looks geared up for battle. My mind instantly went aflutter with ideas of what was going on with the cat how cool it would be to have a familiar that was a part of you. I wasn’t too far off as I read the story and was Tsuyoshi Takaki came up with was very cool.

Review: Green Lanterns #52

August 1, 2018

By Cat Wyatt

It may have only been two weeks since the last issue of Green Lanterns released, but with what has been going on lately it feels like longer. Last we saw of our Green Lantern corps was not good. The Elops were being eradicated, a Guardian had been murdered, Hal was missing, and John had been seriously wounded. On the bright side, things couldn’t possibly get any worse, right?

Review: Batman #52

July 31, 2018

By Cat Wyatt

Batman #52 has an interesting title, to put it lightly. You know something interesting or confusing it about to happen with a title like Batman vs. Bruce Wayne. Obviously we have a pretty good idea of what will happen, based off the events of the last issue, but still…should be interesting.

To recap quickly: Bruce Wayne is part of the jury in a trial for Mister Freeze. Mister Freeze has been accused of killing three women. It’s very important to note that Batman is the one that found the evidence indicating to the murder, and he’s also the one that brought Freeze in. He also beat the snot out of Freeze first. Seriously, it was a brutal beating.

Review: Scales + Scoundrels #11

July 31, 2018

By Cat Wyatt

It’s time for another issue of Scales + Scoundrels! This issue is different from the others so far, in that it focuses not on Vep, but instead on Dorma. While that makes it different, it’s still an interesting point to be seen. We’ve never really seen much of Dorma’s home life, though we know that she must be heading home to inform her family of her brother’s passing. That would make a return very difficult…

Review: Giant Days #41

July 31, 2018

By Cat Wyatt

It’s amazing how long this series has been running, and yet it still feels so new. In Giant Days #41 there’s no shortage of adventures that our wonderful group gets into, but that’s really no surprise, is it? This issue is pretty well balanced, on the whole, showing us issues with Daisy, Esther, and Susan equally. There are also cameos from out two guys and what they’ve been up to during this time. It’s worth noting that Susan is on the cover of this issue, and her with skulls for pupils is an absolutely fantastic and accurate image.

Get Your Game On: Oni Press at GenCon 2018

July 31, 2018

Press Release

We're exhibiting at Gen Con 2018, where we will be selling limited quantities of a special early Gen Con sneak preview edition of Rick and Morty™ vs. Dungeons & Dragons #1 by writers Patrick Rothfuss (The Kingkiller Chronicle) & Jim Zub (Wayward), and artist Troy Little, featuring an exclusive cover from artist Kory Bing. Writer Jim Zub (booth #1649) and cover artist Kory Bing (booth #2129) will be in attendance to support this most epic of crossovers between these two renowned licensed properties. Kory Bing will be signing at Oni Press booth #2655, on Friday and Saturday from 1-2pm.

Archie Meets Spotify to Launch New Motion Comics

July 31, 2018

Press Release

Archie Comics and Spotify have teamed to adapt the publisher’s critically acclaimed and bestselling comics into a video series streaming live on the music platform. The new six episode series, live now only on Spotify, is the next part of Archie’s continued effort to expand to new audiences and story-telling mediums with its wide array of world famous characters.

"Constantine: City of Demons" Movie coming 10/9/18 to Ultra HD, Blu-ray & Digital

July 31, 2018

Press Release

From executive producers David S. Gover and Greg Berlanti, The Hellblazer is back in an all-new twisted tale of mystery, intrigue and the occult with Constantine: City of Demons, a full-length, R-rated feature film based on the acclaimed DC animated series from CW Seed. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, Blue Ribbon Content and DC Entertainment, the action-packed movie will be distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment starting October 9, 2018 on Ultra HD Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, and Digital.

Review: Adventures of the Super Sons #1

July 31, 2018

By Hunter T. Patrick

First adventures are always continuations of the past, whether you see it or not. You think the Super Sons are finished after their last series, and yet here is another new number one. The story is far from over, as it is in both comics and life. There are so many great things on the horizon and the series takes place before them, it takes place in the past as that is what is needed for the future of the series. This takes place before Bendis’ Superman run and doing so ensures one last adventure before the series, and Superboy’s life is forever turned upside down. Superboy is young and has so much promise and adventures ahead of him; boy is in his name, which implies one day he will be a man. Before Superboy grows up, he has to go through what being a boy means. There is one great tale left for him before his life is forever changed and his next chapter comes.